LATICRETE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
1 LATICRETE Park North
Bethany, CT 06524-3423 USA
Tel: (203) 393-0010
Toll-Free: (800) 243-4788
Fax: (203) 393-1684
E-mail: technicalservices@laticrete.com
Web site: http://www.laticrete.com


LATICRETE^® 253 Gold

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

LATICRETE 253 Gold is a superior polymer modified bagged cementitious thin-set powder to be mixed with water to install ceramic tile and natural stone using the thin-set method of installation.

Designed for interior and exterior floor and wall installations of all types of ceramic tiles, porcelain tile and stone over concrete,exterior glue plywood and a variety of substrates.

• Interior and exterior.
• Exceeds ANSI A118.4 Shear Bond Strength Requirements.
• Bonds to most surfaces.

• Concrete
• Cement mortar beds
• Ceramic tile and stone
• Exterior glue plywood*
• Properly prepared vinyl or other resilent tile*
• Non-water soluble cut-back adhesives*
• Concrete masonry
• Cement plaster
• Brick masonry
• Cement terrazzo
• Gypsum wallboard*
• Plastic laminate*
• Cement backer board**

* Interior use only.
** Consult cement backer board manufacturer for specific installation, recommendations and to verify acceptability for exterior use.

WHITE
1 lb (.45 kg) carton; 16 bags per carton; 44 cartons per pallet.
10 lb (4.5 kg) carton; 4 bags per carton; 44 cartons per pallet.
25 lb (11.3 kg) bag; 100 bags per pallet.
50 lb (22.7 kg) bag; 54 bags per pallet.

GREY
25 lb (11.3 kg) bag; 100 bags per pallet.
50 lb (22.7 kg) bag; 54 bags per pallet.

Limitations

• Not for use directly over particle board, luan, Masonite^®or hardwood floors.
• Use LATAPOXY^® 300 Adhesive for installing green marble or water sensitive stone, resin backed stone or tile and agglomerates.
• Use white mortar for white or light-colored marble/stone.
• Adhesives/mastics, mortars and grouts for ceramic tile, pavers, brick and stone are not designed as replacements for waterproof membranes. When a waterproof barrier is required, use a LATICRETE^® Waterproofing Membrane (see Section 10 FILING SYSTEMS).
• Note: Surfaces must be structurally sound, stable and rigid enough to support ceramic/stone tile, thin brick and similar finishes. Substrate deflection under all live, dead and impact loads, including concentrated loads, must not exceed L/360 for thin bed ceramic tile/brick installations or L/480 for thin bed stone installations where L=span length.

• Some marbles and other natural stone have low flexural strength and may not be suitable for installation over wood floors.
• During cold weather, protect finished work from traffic until fully cured.
• Contains portland cement and silica sand. May irritate eyes and skin. Avoid contact with eyes or prolonged contact with skin. In case of contact, flush thoroughly with water.
• Do not take internally. Silica sand may cause cancer or serious lung problems. Avoid breathing dust. Wear a respirator in dusty areas.
• Keep out of reach of children.

This product has been GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified^® by the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute under the GREENGUARD Standard for Low Emitting Products in finished form.
Total VOC Content pounds/gallon (grams/liter) of product in unused form is .00 lb./gal (0.00 g/l) .

ANSI A118.4 and A118.11

Working Properties (70°F [21°C])

All surfaces should be between 40°F (4°C) and 90°F (32°C) and structurally sound, clean and free of all dirt, oil, grease, paint, concrete sealers or curing compounds. Rough or uneven concrete surfaces should be made smooth with LATICRETE Latex Portland Cement Underlayment to provide a wood float(or better) finish. Dry, dusty concrete slabs or masonry should be dampened and excess water swept off. Installation may be made on a damp surface. New concrete slabs shall be damp cured and 28 days old before application. All slabs must be plumb and true to within 1/4" (6 mm) in 10 ft (3 m). Expansion joints shall be provided through the tile work from all construction or expansion joints in the substrate. Follow ANSI specification A108.01-3.7 "Requirements for Movement Joints: Preparations by Other Trades" or Tile Council of North America (TCNA) detail EJ-171 "Movement Joints—Vertical & Horizontal". Do not cover expansion joints with mortar.

1. Installer must verify that deflection under all live, dead and impact loads of interior plywood floors does not exceed industry standards of L/360 for ceramic tile and brick or L/480 for stone installations where L=span length.
2. Minimum construction for interior plywood floors.
   SUBFLOOR: 5/8" (15 mm) thick exterior glue plywood, either plain with all sheet edges blocked or tongue and groove, over bridged joints spaced 16" (400 mm) o.c. maximum; fasten plywood 6" (150 mm) o.c. along sheet ends and 8" (200 mm) o.c. along intermediate supports with 8d ring-shank, coated or hot dip galvanized nails (or screws); allow 1/8" (3 mm) between sheet ends and 1/4" (6 mm) between sheets edges; all sheet ends must be supported by a framing member; glue sheets to joints with construction adhesive.
   UNDERLAYMENT: 5/8" (15 mm) thick exterior glue plywood fastened 6" (150 mm) o.c. along sheet ends and 8" (200 mm) o.c. in the panel field (both directions) with 8d ring-shank, coated or hot dip galvanized nails (or screws); allow 1/8" (3 mm) to 1/4" (6 mm) between sheets and 1/4" (6 mm) between sheet edges and any abutting surfaces; offset underlayment joints from joints in subfloor and stagger joints between sheet ends; glue underlayment to subfloor with construction adhesive. Refer to Technical Data Sheet 152 "Requirements for Direct Bonding of Ceramic or Stone Tiles Over Wood Floors" for complete details.

Place clean, potable water into a clean pail. Add LATICRETE 253 Gold. Use approximately 5.5 qts (5.2 l) of water for 50 lbs(22.7 kg) of powder. Mix by hand or with a slow speed mixer to a smooth, trowelable consistency. Allow mortar to slake for 5–10 minutes. Remix without adding any more water or powder. During use, stir occasionally to keep mix fluffy. Do not temper with water.

Apply mortar to the substrate with the flat side of the trowel, pressing firmly to work into surface. Comb on additional mortar with the notched side.

Use the proper sized notched trowel to ensure full bedding of the tile. Spread as much mortar as can be covered with tile in 15–20 minutes. Back butter large tiles >8" x 8" (>200 mm x 200 mm) to provide full bedding and firm support. Place tiles into wet, sticky mortar and beat in using a beating block and rubber mallet to embed tile and adjust level. Check mortar for complete coverage by periodically removing a tile and inspecting bedding mortar transfer onto back of tile. If mortar is skinned over (not sticky), remove and replace with fresh mortar.

Grout installation after a minimum of 24 hours curing time at 70°F (21°C). Grout with LATICRETE^®1500 Sanded Grout or LATICRETE 1600 Unsanded Grout mixed with LATICRETE 1776 Grout Enhancer. For maximum stain resistance, use LATICRETE SpectraLOCK^®† PRO Grout.
^† United States Invention Patent No.: 6881768 (and other Patents)

Clean tools and tile work with water while mortar is fresh.

LATICRETE and LATAPOXY^®materials are available worldwide.

For Distributor information, call:
Toll Free: 800.243.4788
Telephone: 203.393.0010

For on-line Distributor information, visit LATICRETE at www.laticrete.com.

Contact a LATICRETE Distributor in your area.

LATICRETE and LATAPOXY grouts require routine cleaning with a neutral pH soap and water. All other LATICRETE and LATAPOXY materials require no maintenance but installation performance and durability may depend on properly maintaining products supplied by other manufacturers.

Information is available by calling the LATICRETE Technical Service Hotline (hours 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM EST):
Toll Free: 800.243.4788, ext. 235
Telephone: 203.393.0010, ext. 235
Fax: 203.393.1948

Technical and safety literature
To acquire technical and safety literature, please visit our website at www.laticrete.com.